"As soon as a woman gets to the age where she has opinions and she's vital and she's strong, she's systematically shamed into hiding under a rock." — Sarah Silverman
102 million viewers witnessed the Kansas City Chiefs winning the 54th Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. While the football team from Missouri defeated the San Francisco 49ers in an electrifying game, the halftime show was the (not so surprising) center of attention. Who knew that a 15-minute-long performance from Shakira, 43, and Jennifer Lopez, 51, could serve as the climax for all hyprocrites!
The main characters of a "thriller" that should have been, according to worried parents around the world, treated as an R-rated movie: The two Latin pop stars with an accumulative net worth of $700 million. A powerful pair that never sang together before—but lit the stage on fire. Their performance involved a spectacle of fireworks, classics like "Jenny from the Block," and more than a dozen half-naked dancers that made a "get-up-from-your-seat-and-dance" Moment inevitable.
While the 2019 halftime show with Maroon 5's lead singer Adam Levine ripping off his shirt was a great alternative to sleeping pills, this year's performance sparked a full-on debate on social media. After watching Shakira and J.Lo twerk together in racy outfits, the Twitter-verse screamed: "This is a family event, not porn!" Apparently, a half-naked crotch-grabbing Lopez is a threat to the eyes of millions of children.
I watched the game with five female friends—and all I can say is: Shakira and J.Lo embodied female empowerment. They even brought it to another level!
La Lopez commented on her use of a stripper pole on Instagram: "The inspiration for my entrance was to represent women being on top of the world." Saying "She nailed it" would be an understatement after witnessing the 50-year-old move her body like I never could—even after a couple of drinks.
On the halftime stage, I saw two successful, talented artists—two rocking role models. Shakira, of Lebanese and Colombian descent, and J.Lo, a daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants. Yes, the Super Bowl is supposed to be a family entertainment event—and that's exactly why the performance of two females celebrating their individual bodies, careers, and cultures is so much more important. It should teach us that anything is possible in this country—and women are taking back power in the midst of the #MeToo era. If women want to be sexy? Let. Them. Be. Sexy.
A repulsive reaction or objectification is a medieval mindset that should have no place in 2020.
Both Lopez and Shakira reached an age where they are very well aware of their capabilities—and their influence. J.Lo's fantastic core strength while holding herself up in the air on a pole can be named anything BUT "too obscene." And may I remind you that Shakira not only showed her beautiful body after having two children but also paid tribute to her culture while belly dancing.
And just like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez is also a successful mother of two kids. Her 11-year-old daughter Emma was even included in the show, singing "Born in the USA"—while her mother waved an American and Puerto Rican flag. A clear statement: No matter your age, looks, or background—your success is possible!
In addition, Lopez said at a press conference prior to the football game: "When I think of my daughter, when I think of all the little girls in the world, to be able to see that two Latinas are doing this in this country at this time, it's just very empowering for us."
That being said, the halftime show meant so much more than just 'entertainment while getting a snack.' The Super Bowl was held in Miami, a city whose population is 69.1% Hispanic.
By contrast, according to recent numbers from the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, only 0.5% of NFL players are of Latino descent. And only a small portion (roughly nine percent) of the average television audience watching NFL games is Latino. So, the fact that the Super Bowl halftime show was dominated by Latinas should be seen as a hopeful message across the country rather than an infuriating sex act.
To keep 49-year-old Sarah Silverman's words in mind: Neither J.Lo or Shakira nor any other independent woman needs to be ashamed and hide under a rock just for being and expressing themselves.